Rail workers paved over our Hampstead garden

Ripped apart: the garden next to the Moore Court flats in Alexandra Road, South Hampstead, and the car park built by National Rail for staff to carry out subsidence work on the nearby West Coast mainline

Residents of a block of flats woke to find their garden had been ripped apart and turned into a car park.

Trees were uprooted and plants torn to shreds in the South Hampstead garden and replaced with metal sheeting as Network Rail staff set up the car park while carrying out work on the adjacent line.

Since it started last week, the land has been protected by 24-hour security guards with dogs and residents can no longer access the area.They said the workers had smashed down the garden wall and thrown shrubs onto the rail line.

"It's very annoying that we have not been properly informed. Everybody here is really cross that they've taken up residence in our garden."

Teacher Nano Nagle, 58, said: "I feel like I'm living in a place where I have no rights." She said that when she confronted the workers, they said they needed the land to park their cars because they were fed up with getting parking tickets — which Network Rail denies.

The garden overlooked by the flats at Moore Court in Alexandra Road is owned by Network Rail. But the land is leased to Camden council and residents are part of a shared-ownership scheme, paying service charges to Notting Hill Housing Association.

A Network Rail spokesman said it was to become a headquarters for urgent subsidence work on the West Coast mainline.

He added: "A piece of Network Rail land in Alexandra Road has been identified as the best location for a site office while emergency work is carried out to stabilise the railway.

"The land is currently leased to Camden council with the terms of the lease allowing full access to Network Rail. Camden has been informed and is content with our plans.

"As a gesture of goodwill we have waived six months' rent for the lease of the land and we have committed to return the garden to its former condition — if not even better — once the work is complete."

A Camden spokeswoman said: "The council is happy for Network Rail to access the land to carry out these necessary repairs.

"As we will not be incurring any costs for the upkeep of the garden during this time, residents should see a saving in their service charge bills for 2009/10 and 2010/11."